Improvement in folding sofas



UNITED STATES JAMES W. MGDONOUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEM'ENT IN FOLDING SOFAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,850, dated July 11, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES YV. MeDoNoUGH, of Chica-go, in the county of Cook and State of Elinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Sofas and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, refA erence being had to the accompanying drawing and letters marked thereon forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective representation of the frame-work of my improved folding sofa, with one of its folding ends closed, the better to show its construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken elevation of the front rail of the folding bottom, showing the form and position of one of the legs when folded up preparatory to closing the folding bottom. Fig. Sis an elevation of one of the legs removed from its socket; and Fig. el is an enlarged elevation of one of the legs, showing its position when turned down.

Similar letters ofreference indicate correspond ing parts in the several figures of the drawing.

My invention relates to an improved folding sofa, and its nature will be fully understood from the following description:

A represents the back, J the bottom, and G E I H the end pieces of an ordinary sofa without the folding heads. The middle'rails J 'J" are rigidly fastened to the under side of the end pieces H Gr, shown in Fig. l, so that a mattress, vwhen the folding part J is opened outward, will not be obstructed by the upward projections of the said middle rails. Each end of the sofa is made in two sections or parts, the part represented by the letters Gr E I H, Fig. l, being permanently attached to the frame, and that part represented by the letters B C D being attached to the permanent part by the hinges F F, or other equivalent fastenings, so that when the sofa is opened or unfolded for use as a lounge or bed the movable or folding portion of the head B O D may be unfolded, forming a head across the entire width of the sofa, and that such movable or folding section of the head is so constructed that the upper rail B thereof is higher than the rail I of the permanent section, and, when folded,

covers `or folds over and upon the rail I, and, in connection with the curved shape of the sides or ends O of the movable or folding section, when folded or closed upon the permanent section of the head, forms a linish to the heads or ends of of the sofa and thereby covering the joint across the upper portion of the same, which would otherwise be exposed. lhe folding fra-me J, when unfolded, is supported by the legs K, which are of a novel construction. Each of saidA legs is made of metal or other suitable material, and is formed with a curved part, I?, and stop M, and shoulders L, so that said leg may be turned up and held in place, as shown in Fig. 2, and so that it may be held in an upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. rl`his arrangement is importa-nt and convenient, inasmuch as the legs eanboth be held in a horizontal and vertical position, as may he required in the different positions of the folding part J. This arrangement is much more convenient than when the legs are pivoted to the folding part J, as is usually done, for the reason that the legs cannot get out of position, whether placed horizontally or vertically in the loops 1I which are fastened to the rail J, and in which they are operated.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the folding section of the head I5 O I) with the permanent section G E I H, when so constructed and arranged as to project over said permanent section in such amanner as to cover the `joint across the same, when folded, thus forming a inished head, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the folding' frame J provided with the loops N, the legs K having their upper ends curved and provided with the stops M and shoulders L, when arranged, as herein described, for the purpose of supporting the frame when in a vertical position and for supporting themselves when in a horizontal position, as set forth.

JAMES W. MCDONOUGH.

Vitnesses:

G. L. GHAPIN, It. B. FOWLER. 

